God’s Word Translation
1 Kings 15:4
4But for David’s sake the Lord his God made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David’s descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem.
1 Kings 15:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:
- New International Version (NIV)Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem;
Context of 1 Kings 15:4
2He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was named Maacah, daughter of Abishalom. 3He followed the sinful example his father had set and wasn’t committed to the Lord his God as his ancestor David had been. But for David’s sake the Lord his God made Abijam a lamp in Jerusalem. He appointed David’s descendant to rule after him and protected Jerusalem. 5The Lord did this because David did what the Lord considered right: David never failed to do anything the Lord commanded him to do his entire life (except in the matter concerning Uriah the Hittite). 6There was war between Abijam and Rehoboam throughout their lives.
Read all of 1 Kings 151 Kings 15:4 word by word
כִּ֚י לְמַ֣עַן דָּוִ֔ד נָתַן֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהָ֥יו ל֛וֹ נִ֖יר בִּירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם לְהָקִ֤ים אֶת־בְּנוֹ֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וּֽלְהַעֲמִ֖יד אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nevertheless for David’sדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
- sake did the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- his Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- him a lampנִירnîyr nir nêyr nêr nêrâh · lampH5216
- in Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- to set upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- him, and to establishעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
Cross-references for 1 Kings 15:4
- 1 Kings 11:12But I will not do it in your lifetime because of your father David. I will tear it away from the hands of your son.
- Genesis 12:2I will make you a great nation, I will bless you. I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
- Genesis 19:29When God destroyed the cities on the plain, he remembered Abraham. Lot was allowed to escape from the destruction that came to the cities where he was living.
- Genesis 26:5I will bless you because Abraham obeyed me and completed the duties, commands, laws, and instructions I gave him.”
- Deuteronomy 4:37Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants, he was with you as he brought you out of Egypt by his great power.
- 2 Samuel 7:12“ ‘When the time comes for you to lie down in death with your ancestors, I will send one of your descendants, ⌞one⌟ who will come from you. I will establish his kingdom.
- Isaiah 37:35“I will shield this city to rescue it for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.”
- Jeremiah 33:20“This is what the Lord says: Suppose you could break my arrangement with day and night so that they wouldn’t come at their proper time.
- Romans 11:28The Good News made the Jewish people enemies because of you. But by God’s choice they are loved because of their ancestors.
- 1 Kings 11:36I will give his son one tribe so that my servant David will always have a lamp in my presence in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to place my name.
- 2 Chronicles 21:7But the Lord, recalling the promise he had made to David, didn’t want to destroy David’s family. The Lord had told David that he would always give him and his descendants a ⌞shining⌟ lamp.
- Psalms 132:17There I will make a horn sprout up for David. I will prepare a lamp for my anointed one.
- Luke 1:69He has raised up a mighty Savior for us in the family of his servant David.
- Luke 2:32He is a light that will reveal ⌞salvation⌟ to the nations and bring glory to your people Israel.”
- John 8:12Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark.”
- Revelation 22:16“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give this testimony to you for the churches. I am the root and descendant of David. I am the bright morning star.”
Commentaries on 1 Kings 15:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The Lord - give him a lamp - That is, a son to succeed him; see 1 Kings 11:36.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4To set up his son - The idolatry of Abijam deserved the same punishment as that of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:10-14, of Baasha 1 Kings 16:2-4, or of Zimri 1 Kings 16:19, the cutting off of his seed, and the transfer of the crown to another family. That these consequences did not follow in the kingdom of Judah, was owing to the “faithfulness” of David (see the marginal reference), which brought a blessing on his posterity. Few things are more remarkable and more…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3-5Even though Abijam was unfaithful, God stayed true to his promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 89:19–29) and kept David's descendants on Judah's throne. Each king after David was meant to be a light, sharing God's grace (1 Kings 11:36).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. for David's sake did the Lord his God give him a lamp--"A lamp" in one's house is an Oriental phrase for continuance of family name and prosperity. Abijam was not rejected only in consequence of the divine promise to David (see on 1Ki 11:13-36). 1Ki 15:9-22. Asa's Good Reign.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Kings 15:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Kings 15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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